Montessori-- what's your schools policy on full day/half day? UPDATE #31 - Page 2

[Golden]

AMI school here. The whole school is five days a week only.

Toddlers can go either half or full. Most go half. I think it's the working parents that stay all day.

Primary 3-6 yrs can go half or full day the first year. I'd say more than 2/3 go full day. The second year, so 4 years old, they are required to go full day - 8:30-3. If these kids have older sibs in the elementary program, that day is an hour longer - 1/2 hr in the morning and 1/2 hour at the end of the day so their day is even longer.

[Flor]

Originally Posted by Terabith

You know, I'm feeling really angry at your director. Even if it is the "Montessori way" for four yr olds to go full day (which certainly does not seem to be at all universal), it is obviously not a great thing for your son. He should not have to go full day. There is no reason, if he is fried emotionally from being there and is putting himself to nap with the younger ones, he's not even getting any academic stuff out of it. (Which is not at all the main point, even.) You don't need him to be there. The director knows you aren't thrilled with it. He should go half days and you should pay for half days. This is ridiculous.

Thanks, as you may guess, I TOTALLY agree with you. Another mom called me the other day. Her dd is turning 4 next month and she was asking for my strategy for getting the director to wait for ds to be 4.5 before putting him in full day. She doesn't want or need her daughter there all day. Other parents have left the program completely because of this rule. It is annoying because I really like our school, and it struggles financially. As parents we are always working to recruit new students, talk up our school, support it, etc., but this policy really turns off a lot of parents.

[MattBronsil]

Originally Posted by Flor

Thanks, as you may guess, I TOTALLY agree with you. Another mom called me the other day. Her dd is turning 4 next month and she was asking for my strategy for getting the director to wait for ds to be 4.5 before putting him in full day. She doesn't want or need her daughter there all day. Other parents have left the program completely because of this rule. It is annoying because I really like our school, and it struggles financially. As parents we are always working to recruit new students, talk up our school, support it, etc., but this policy really turns off a lot of parents.

Still be careful how it is approached, though. In the end, any school should be able to say, "This is how we do things and I'm sorry if you disagree with it." The school might be willing to change that rule, they might not be. I think it is important for parents to be involved in discussing these issues with the director. At the same time, the director is in the position of making sure the school stays running and that every child has their needs met. If the director feels a full day program starting at that age benefits the child in the long run, look at it that you have a disagreement of what will benefit the child and decide from there what your plan of action is. Don't look at it as the director just blew you off unless there are other reasons for it.

Matt

[Flor]

Originally Posted by MattBronsil

Still be careful how it is approached, though. In the end, any school should be able to say, "This is how we do things and I'm sorry if you disagree with it." The school might be willing to change that rule, they might not be. I think it is important for parents to be involved in discussing these issues with the director. At the same time, the director is in the position of making sure the school stays running and that every child has their needs met. If the director feels a full day program starting at that age benefits the child in the long run, look at it that you have a disagreement of what will benefit the child and decide from there what your plan of action is. Don't look at it as the director just blew you off unless there are other reasons for it.

Matt

While I agree that the school can say "This is just how we do things" our school is always on the brink of financial crisis. Sooooo many parents have left because of this rule and that upsets me because I want our school to still be there for ds and his classmates. A tiny private school does need to keep its student's family in mind. I don't want them to bend to our every whim, but I think if there is a policy that is making a lot of families leave, it is worth reconsidering.

The director doesn't give me any reason other than "this is the Montessori way and if you want your child to have a Montessori education, this is what happens." This explanation just doesn't make sense to me because 1. I haven't found anyting by MM saying "all 4 year olds must go full day" and 2. it doesn't seem to be required at most Montessori schools and 3. I don't see how it takes into account the individual development of each child.

Many parents have decided it is just a financial decision since it makes your tution go up by 300 dollars a month, though considering how many parents have left because of this, I don't think it is making financial sense.

After the last conversation with the director, I felt like he doesn't place very much importance on the parent's role in the child's life. He doesn't see why spending the afternoon with your mother at the park might be as beneficial or more as napping at school.

I think he needs some flexibility with the 4 year olds. Some are ready, and some aren't.

I do plan to keep ds there through elementary school, but I asked him if he wanted me to just pull ds out of the school for 6-8 months till he was ready to go full days. He said that wasn't necessary.

[MattBronsil]

If it helps any, I think 1/2 day for 3-6 (all the ages) is a fantastic option. Most schools do not do it because it is not practical as far as the demand for full day.

The reason is likely a financial one. If you offer full day at a certain point and nothing else, you can't start offering half day. It has to keep up with trends also as far as what is around them. If too many other schools (even if they are not Montessori) offer half day programs, that may be another way to set your school apart in the market.

Sorry to hear you did not have a good experience talking with the director. I hope some resolution happens for you. If you are wondering, however, yes...there are some 3-6 Montessori schools that are half day, even for the entire class. Many other schools are full day for the class. Even more are 3-6 half day, then have full day for the Kindergarten.

There are many different setups. What drives which way the school goes is usually supply and demand. That supply and demand is not always necessarily with the current parents, but with other potential parents as well.

Again, I hope some resolution comes about that works for everyone.

[Flor]

There are kids in the same class who are half day (the 2/3 year olds). I don't really understand the supply/demand side of it. I don't see how making kids go full day when parents want 1/2 day is responding to supply and demand. In the past, 4 year olds could be full day or half day, parent choice, but starting this year, they have to be full day. Many parents have left because of no choice. When there was a choice, I can't see anyone leaving because a choice was available.

So, do you think there is a "Montessori" reason for it or only financial?

[Lillianna]

I know of one school that solves the financial problem by running 2 - 3 hour work cycles. The child can either attend morning or afternoon or all day. So children who only attend 1/2 day are balanced between morning and afternoon. You could suggest this to the Director?

[Flor]

Originally Posted by Lillianna

I know of one school that solves the financial problem by running 2 - 3 hour work cycles. The child can either attend morning or afternoon or all day. So children who only attend 1/2 day are balanced between morning and afternoon. You could suggest this to the Director?

I'm interested, but I don't understand the math of it. We don't have a waiting list, so it's not as if ds is taking the place of a full-time student. Am I not understanding?

[MattBronsil]

Originally Posted by Flor

There are kids in the same class who are half day (the 2/3 year olds). I don't really understand the supply/demand side of it.

I'm a Libra. I always have to seek the balance ;-)

So, do you think there is a "Montessori" reason for it or only financial?

I don't know I try to stay out of reasons why schools beside my own do things. I will say what I do believe:

--Children sometimes have an adjustment period going from half day to full day. Your director may be saying, "wait this out."
--There are a variety of Montessori options out there. So full day now is not really the only way to do Montessori.
--A school should always seriously look at parent input and suggestions, but a school should also ultimately either say, "that's a good change" or "I'm sorry - this is the program we offer."

I would also talk to parents who have already been through the 4 year old year before you throw in the towel on the program. See what the kindergarten parent experience is.

Matt

[thyme]

Our school is AMI, and the primary classroom is half day (ages 3-6). At some time around age 5 (usually 4 years 9 months, to 5 years 3 months) the student will be asked to join the full day. This is based on their readiness, as determined by the teacher. (I think there is something about when they lose their first teeth that is part of the readiness but I am not clear on this.)

Parents can optionally keep their younger kids there for a full day, but those children are separated from the classroom and given nap time/quiet work. The classroom is for the older children to work with the teacher on more advanced stuff.

It seems to work pretty well. 5 seems like a better age than 4 for a full day, in my opinion.

[Flor]

UPDATE

Ok, so I went to the conference ready to voice my concerns about ds being completely worn out after school. I told him that I had decided that I will pick up ds early two days a week. He said that sounds fine. I was totally ready to fight (and I'm not very confrontational). Today was the first day I picked him up after lunch and I do think it is going to help. He is learning so much I didn't want to completely go back to half day, but I think this will give him a little break.

[Lillianna]

Originally Posted by Flor

I'm interested, but I don't understand the math of it. We don't have a waiting list, so it's not as if ds is taking the place of a full-time student. Am I not understanding?

There would be 3 and 4 yr. olds, like your ds, who would attend the morning session and then different 3 and 4 yr olds who attend the afternoon session as well as 5 and 6 year olds who stay all day.

Anyway, it sounds like you have already found a nice solution.
Good luck!